An EFCA Summer?

Just when you thought it was safe to go back in the water...looks like an EFCA summer with "High Hazard" flags posted.

This week at the third annual Senate Progressive Summit, Harry Reid, Democrat Senator from Nevada remarked that "he would like the Senate to take up EFCA this summer."

Greg Kaufmann reporting for The Nation attended the day-long series of panels with Senators and other members of the member wrote, "An aide (for Harry Reid) later said that (EFCA this summer) might be optimistic--that it wouldn't be brought up until Dems are confident they have the 60 votes needed to stop a GOP filibuster."

Now this in a Reuters interview at the start of the 111th Congress with Representative George Miller (Democrat-California), chairman of the U.S. House of Representatives labor committee, "The Employee Free Choice Act (EFCA) will receive prompt attention in this Congress. But more urgent matters -- most importantly the deepening economic crisis -- must take precedence for now. We'll let the administration get settled in here. We've had some discussions. Senator (Edward) Kennedy and I have had some discussions... We're waiting to talk to the administration. We'd like to get it done relatively soon and I think we will."

So for those of you that have been flying the Low Hazard flag, operating in an "if and when" mode and waiting for the EFCA current to shift, take advantage of this small window to both develop and implement your preventative labor strategy. If you're not creating a message for new hires to educate them about your union free philosophy, if you don't have focused, consistent communication with your employees, and if you're not training your managers and supervisors... those high hazard waters are likely headed your way.

Bottom line, if you're not implementing a proactive labor relations strategy, then you're not prepared to do business in this brave new world we're about to enter.